We celebrate Mother's Day in March in Britain, but having lived in Canada for a long time the May date feels more traditional to me, and it's made me think about mothers in our novels. The picture is of my mother, Mildred, as a teenager, on her wedding day, and her 40th wedding anniversary.
I have to say that my work is short on great mothers. No reflection on my own mum, but for some reason my heroine's good mothers are usually dead before the book starts. Mind you, most of the bad ones are, too.
If I consider my recent books I have a cold mother for Georgia is A Scandalous Countess, and a dead, unappreciative one for Prudence in An Unlikely Countess. In my upcoming book, Seduction in Silk, the heroine's dead mother is a stinker, and the hero's is the same as in Scandalous C as Perry is Georgia's brother.
To look on the bright side, both Christian's parents in A Secret Wedding were loving, though also such an embarrassment to him at times with their seemingly endless production of healthy children and unashamed enjoyment of the getting of them. Sometimes parents in novels can make life difficult, as in Perry's case in Seduction in Silk.
There's an excerpt here, but no mothers present.
I have some questions for you.
What great mothers for heroes and heroines have you found in historical romance? What makes them particularly great?
In general, if the protagonists have a mother, does that help or hinder? Does being motherless lead to a stronger plot? Does a loving mother weaken the drama? Examples?
If you have a great story about your mother, share it here. My mother, a devout Catholic, used to invite Jehova's Witnesses in for tea and try to convert them. I think she got put on their blacklist in the end as they stopped coming by.
I'll give a copy of The Secret Wedding to the writer of one of the interesting comments, randomly picked.
Cheers,
Jo
I’m commenting because I like the topic, and won on a book from the last post, so please don’t enter me into the drawing.
I had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses–my mother-in-law, also a devout Catholic, did the same thing.
If you think about it, there aren’t many great mothers in romance. They’re either gone or they’re not in any way in the picture. Of course I can’t think of an example, but there are a lot of aunts out there who do a great job, and big sisters who are in charge of a whole brood of kids that work to keep the family together. There are also grandma’s that have picked up the slack and are now aging an infirm, but beloved. I can’t think of one novel where either the heroine or hero needs to go rushing off because Mom called/wrote/telegramed and needs assistance. That might be an interesting plot…..
I’m commenting because I like the topic, and won on a book from the last post, so please don’t enter me into the drawing.
I had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses–my mother-in-law, also a devout Catholic, did the same thing.
If you think about it, there aren’t many great mothers in romance. They’re either gone or they’re not in any way in the picture. Of course I can’t think of an example, but there are a lot of aunts out there who do a great job, and big sisters who are in charge of a whole brood of kids that work to keep the family together. There are also grandma’s that have picked up the slack and are now aging an infirm, but beloved. I can’t think of one novel where either the heroine or hero needs to go rushing off because Mom called/wrote/telegramed and needs assistance. That might be an interesting plot…..
I’m commenting because I like the topic, and won on a book from the last post, so please don’t enter me into the drawing.
I had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses–my mother-in-law, also a devout Catholic, did the same thing.
If you think about it, there aren’t many great mothers in romance. They’re either gone or they’re not in any way in the picture. Of course I can’t think of an example, but there are a lot of aunts out there who do a great job, and big sisters who are in charge of a whole brood of kids that work to keep the family together. There are also grandma’s that have picked up the slack and are now aging an infirm, but beloved. I can’t think of one novel where either the heroine or hero needs to go rushing off because Mom called/wrote/telegramed and needs assistance. That might be an interesting plot…..
I’m commenting because I like the topic, and won on a book from the last post, so please don’t enter me into the drawing.
I had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses–my mother-in-law, also a devout Catholic, did the same thing.
If you think about it, there aren’t many great mothers in romance. They’re either gone or they’re not in any way in the picture. Of course I can’t think of an example, but there are a lot of aunts out there who do a great job, and big sisters who are in charge of a whole brood of kids that work to keep the family together. There are also grandma’s that have picked up the slack and are now aging an infirm, but beloved. I can’t think of one novel where either the heroine or hero needs to go rushing off because Mom called/wrote/telegramed and needs assistance. That might be an interesting plot…..
I’m commenting because I like the topic, and won on a book from the last post, so please don’t enter me into the drawing.
I had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses–my mother-in-law, also a devout Catholic, did the same thing.
If you think about it, there aren’t many great mothers in romance. They’re either gone or they’re not in any way in the picture. Of course I can’t think of an example, but there are a lot of aunts out there who do a great job, and big sisters who are in charge of a whole brood of kids that work to keep the family together. There are also grandma’s that have picked up the slack and are now aging an infirm, but beloved. I can’t think of one novel where either the heroine or hero needs to go rushing off because Mom called/wrote/telegramed and needs assistance. That might be an interesting plot…..
Romancelandia does seem to suffer a surfeit of orphans, doesn’t it? And when mothers do survive long enough to figure in a book, they tend to be unhelpful to say the least, often trying to push their daughters into marriage for strictly mercenary or social reasons.
I do like Bathsheba in Loretta Chase’s LORD PERFECT, with her unsentimental view of her daughter, but she was the heroine, not the heroine’s mother.
In a way, Bathsheba reminded me of my own mother, who tended to the sardonic. Once, toward the end of her life, I had taken her to the doctor’s office and the nurse, patting the examining table, said, “Can we sit up here?”
My mother looked at her and said, “I had a colostomy, not a lobotomy.”
Romancelandia does seem to suffer a surfeit of orphans, doesn’t it? And when mothers do survive long enough to figure in a book, they tend to be unhelpful to say the least, often trying to push their daughters into marriage for strictly mercenary or social reasons.
I do like Bathsheba in Loretta Chase’s LORD PERFECT, with her unsentimental view of her daughter, but she was the heroine, not the heroine’s mother.
In a way, Bathsheba reminded me of my own mother, who tended to the sardonic. Once, toward the end of her life, I had taken her to the doctor’s office and the nurse, patting the examining table, said, “Can we sit up here?”
My mother looked at her and said, “I had a colostomy, not a lobotomy.”
Romancelandia does seem to suffer a surfeit of orphans, doesn’t it? And when mothers do survive long enough to figure in a book, they tend to be unhelpful to say the least, often trying to push their daughters into marriage for strictly mercenary or social reasons.
I do like Bathsheba in Loretta Chase’s LORD PERFECT, with her unsentimental view of her daughter, but she was the heroine, not the heroine’s mother.
In a way, Bathsheba reminded me of my own mother, who tended to the sardonic. Once, toward the end of her life, I had taken her to the doctor’s office and the nurse, patting the examining table, said, “Can we sit up here?”
My mother looked at her and said, “I had a colostomy, not a lobotomy.”
Romancelandia does seem to suffer a surfeit of orphans, doesn’t it? And when mothers do survive long enough to figure in a book, they tend to be unhelpful to say the least, often trying to push their daughters into marriage for strictly mercenary or social reasons.
I do like Bathsheba in Loretta Chase’s LORD PERFECT, with her unsentimental view of her daughter, but she was the heroine, not the heroine’s mother.
In a way, Bathsheba reminded me of my own mother, who tended to the sardonic. Once, toward the end of her life, I had taken her to the doctor’s office and the nurse, patting the examining table, said, “Can we sit up here?”
My mother looked at her and said, “I had a colostomy, not a lobotomy.”
Romancelandia does seem to suffer a surfeit of orphans, doesn’t it? And when mothers do survive long enough to figure in a book, they tend to be unhelpful to say the least, often trying to push their daughters into marriage for strictly mercenary or social reasons.
I do like Bathsheba in Loretta Chase’s LORD PERFECT, with her unsentimental view of her daughter, but she was the heroine, not the heroine’s mother.
In a way, Bathsheba reminded me of my own mother, who tended to the sardonic. Once, toward the end of her life, I had taken her to the doctor’s office and the nurse, patting the examining table, said, “Can we sit up here?”
My mother looked at her and said, “I had a colostomy, not a lobotomy.”
It is difficult to think of good mothers in historical romance. There’s Sylvester’s mother in Georgette Heyer’s novel who loves her son and understands his strengths and weaknesses quite well. Others I can remember include Violet Bridgerton in Julia Quinn’s series, the Countess of Hargate in Loretta Chase’s Carsington books, Theo’s mother in Eloisa James’s The Ugly Duchess (Theo herself is a good mother in With This Kiss), and I’d include the Duchess of Belcraven in your An Unwilling Bride, Jo. The hero’s mother in Tessa Dare’s upcoming Any Duchess Will Do takes some extreme measures to see her son married, but she is a loving mother. Her son describes her as a “formidable blend of exterior polish and inner fire.” I can think of more examples in contemporary romance. Anna from the MacGregor series of Nora Roberts is a particular favorite.
It is difficult to think of good mothers in historical romance. There’s Sylvester’s mother in Georgette Heyer’s novel who loves her son and understands his strengths and weaknesses quite well. Others I can remember include Violet Bridgerton in Julia Quinn’s series, the Countess of Hargate in Loretta Chase’s Carsington books, Theo’s mother in Eloisa James’s The Ugly Duchess (Theo herself is a good mother in With This Kiss), and I’d include the Duchess of Belcraven in your An Unwilling Bride, Jo. The hero’s mother in Tessa Dare’s upcoming Any Duchess Will Do takes some extreme measures to see her son married, but she is a loving mother. Her son describes her as a “formidable blend of exterior polish and inner fire.” I can think of more examples in contemporary romance. Anna from the MacGregor series of Nora Roberts is a particular favorite.
It is difficult to think of good mothers in historical romance. There’s Sylvester’s mother in Georgette Heyer’s novel who loves her son and understands his strengths and weaknesses quite well. Others I can remember include Violet Bridgerton in Julia Quinn’s series, the Countess of Hargate in Loretta Chase’s Carsington books, Theo’s mother in Eloisa James’s The Ugly Duchess (Theo herself is a good mother in With This Kiss), and I’d include the Duchess of Belcraven in your An Unwilling Bride, Jo. The hero’s mother in Tessa Dare’s upcoming Any Duchess Will Do takes some extreme measures to see her son married, but she is a loving mother. Her son describes her as a “formidable blend of exterior polish and inner fire.” I can think of more examples in contemporary romance. Anna from the MacGregor series of Nora Roberts is a particular favorite.
It is difficult to think of good mothers in historical romance. There’s Sylvester’s mother in Georgette Heyer’s novel who loves her son and understands his strengths and weaknesses quite well. Others I can remember include Violet Bridgerton in Julia Quinn’s series, the Countess of Hargate in Loretta Chase’s Carsington books, Theo’s mother in Eloisa James’s The Ugly Duchess (Theo herself is a good mother in With This Kiss), and I’d include the Duchess of Belcraven in your An Unwilling Bride, Jo. The hero’s mother in Tessa Dare’s upcoming Any Duchess Will Do takes some extreme measures to see her son married, but she is a loving mother. Her son describes her as a “formidable blend of exterior polish and inner fire.” I can think of more examples in contemporary romance. Anna from the MacGregor series of Nora Roberts is a particular favorite.
It is difficult to think of good mothers in historical romance. There’s Sylvester’s mother in Georgette Heyer’s novel who loves her son and understands his strengths and weaknesses quite well. Others I can remember include Violet Bridgerton in Julia Quinn’s series, the Countess of Hargate in Loretta Chase’s Carsington books, Theo’s mother in Eloisa James’s The Ugly Duchess (Theo herself is a good mother in With This Kiss), and I’d include the Duchess of Belcraven in your An Unwilling Bride, Jo. The hero’s mother in Tessa Dare’s upcoming Any Duchess Will Do takes some extreme measures to see her son married, but she is a loving mother. Her son describes her as a “formidable blend of exterior polish and inner fire.” I can think of more examples in contemporary romance. Anna from the MacGregor series of Nora Roberts is a particular favorite.
Back again, because I keep thinking about this. I suspect that the reason there are not many good mothers—or fathers, for that matter—of heroes or heroines in Romance is that by that point they aren’t really needed except to create problems. The “good” mothers tend to be the heroines who are protecting their children, like Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand or Jonet in A Woman Scorned.
The only good and useful mother I can think of is Sophia in Claudia Dain’s The Courtesan’s Daughter.
Now if you asked about BAD mothers, we could probably come up with quite a lengthy list.
Back again, because I keep thinking about this. I suspect that the reason there are not many good mothers—or fathers, for that matter—of heroes or heroines in Romance is that by that point they aren’t really needed except to create problems. The “good” mothers tend to be the heroines who are protecting their children, like Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand or Jonet in A Woman Scorned.
The only good and useful mother I can think of is Sophia in Claudia Dain’s The Courtesan’s Daughter.
Now if you asked about BAD mothers, we could probably come up with quite a lengthy list.
Back again, because I keep thinking about this. I suspect that the reason there are not many good mothers—or fathers, for that matter—of heroes or heroines in Romance is that by that point they aren’t really needed except to create problems. The “good” mothers tend to be the heroines who are protecting their children, like Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand or Jonet in A Woman Scorned.
The only good and useful mother I can think of is Sophia in Claudia Dain’s The Courtesan’s Daughter.
Now if you asked about BAD mothers, we could probably come up with quite a lengthy list.
Back again, because I keep thinking about this. I suspect that the reason there are not many good mothers—or fathers, for that matter—of heroes or heroines in Romance is that by that point they aren’t really needed except to create problems. The “good” mothers tend to be the heroines who are protecting their children, like Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand or Jonet in A Woman Scorned.
The only good and useful mother I can think of is Sophia in Claudia Dain’s The Courtesan’s Daughter.
Now if you asked about BAD mothers, we could probably come up with quite a lengthy list.
Back again, because I keep thinking about this. I suspect that the reason there are not many good mothers—or fathers, for that matter—of heroes or heroines in Romance is that by that point they aren’t really needed except to create problems. The “good” mothers tend to be the heroines who are protecting their children, like Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand or Jonet in A Woman Scorned.
The only good and useful mother I can think of is Sophia in Claudia Dain’s The Courtesan’s Daughter.
Now if you asked about BAD mothers, we could probably come up with quite a lengthy list.
Janga, a lot of mothers do seem to be there to push sons or daughters into marriag. Mrs. Bennet is a classic case, but she had powerful financial reasons for her obsession.
I rather like the idea of a mother with so many responsibilities, interests and projects that her offspring are begging her to fix their problems and she’s too busy. Perhaps I’ll have a go at that.
Janga, a lot of mothers do seem to be there to push sons or daughters into marriag. Mrs. Bennet is a classic case, but she had powerful financial reasons for her obsession.
I rather like the idea of a mother with so many responsibilities, interests and projects that her offspring are begging her to fix their problems and she’s too busy. Perhaps I’ll have a go at that.
Janga, a lot of mothers do seem to be there to push sons or daughters into marriag. Mrs. Bennet is a classic case, but she had powerful financial reasons for her obsession.
I rather like the idea of a mother with so many responsibilities, interests and projects that her offspring are begging her to fix their problems and she’s too busy. Perhaps I’ll have a go at that.
Janga, a lot of mothers do seem to be there to push sons or daughters into marriag. Mrs. Bennet is a classic case, but she had powerful financial reasons for her obsession.
I rather like the idea of a mother with so many responsibilities, interests and projects that her offspring are begging her to fix their problems and she’s too busy. Perhaps I’ll have a go at that.
Janga, a lot of mothers do seem to be there to push sons or daughters into marriag. Mrs. Bennet is a classic case, but she had powerful financial reasons for her obsession.
I rather like the idea of a mother with so many responsibilities, interests and projects that her offspring are begging her to fix their problems and she’s too busy. Perhaps I’ll have a go at that.
I don’t really care about the mother in a novel unless they have an important part. The Duchess of Windham in the Windham series novels by Grace Burrowes is an absolutely awesome lady as she raised her husband’s “by blows” as they were sometimes called along with their own children.
I too had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses tale as my late brother would greet them at the door with his red tailed boa constrictor draped around his neck. The first time it was accidental as he was cleaning Red’s cage and had no where else to put her because of her large size. After he saw their reaction he did it just to get a rise from them. I’d love to win this book as I love your writing.
I don’t really care about the mother in a novel unless they have an important part. The Duchess of Windham in the Windham series novels by Grace Burrowes is an absolutely awesome lady as she raised her husband’s “by blows” as they were sometimes called along with their own children.
I too had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses tale as my late brother would greet them at the door with his red tailed boa constrictor draped around his neck. The first time it was accidental as he was cleaning Red’s cage and had no where else to put her because of her large size. After he saw their reaction he did it just to get a rise from them. I’d love to win this book as I love your writing.
I don’t really care about the mother in a novel unless they have an important part. The Duchess of Windham in the Windham series novels by Grace Burrowes is an absolutely awesome lady as she raised her husband’s “by blows” as they were sometimes called along with their own children.
I too had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses tale as my late brother would greet them at the door with his red tailed boa constrictor draped around his neck. The first time it was accidental as he was cleaning Red’s cage and had no where else to put her because of her large size. After he saw their reaction he did it just to get a rise from them. I’d love to win this book as I love your writing.
I don’t really care about the mother in a novel unless they have an important part. The Duchess of Windham in the Windham series novels by Grace Burrowes is an absolutely awesome lady as she raised her husband’s “by blows” as they were sometimes called along with their own children.
I too had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses tale as my late brother would greet them at the door with his red tailed boa constrictor draped around his neck. The first time it was accidental as he was cleaning Red’s cage and had no where else to put her because of her large size. After he saw their reaction he did it just to get a rise from them. I’d love to win this book as I love your writing.
I don’t really care about the mother in a novel unless they have an important part. The Duchess of Windham in the Windham series novels by Grace Burrowes is an absolutely awesome lady as she raised her husband’s “by blows” as they were sometimes called along with their own children.
I too had to laugh about the Jehova’s Witnesses tale as my late brother would greet them at the door with his red tailed boa constrictor draped around his neck. The first time it was accidental as he was cleaning Red’s cage and had no where else to put her because of her large size. After he saw their reaction he did it just to get a rise from them. I’d love to win this book as I love your writing.
The mother in Heyer’s False Colours is a good mother in her way, even though her debts precipitate the sons’ problems. Leonie is not a bad mother to Vidal, although one wonders why he turned out so wild and spoilt. (Genetics?) Arabella has a nice mother, although we only meet her at the beginning of the book.Sir Richard Wyndham has a pretty terrible mother, on the other hand ….
The mother in Heyer’s False Colours is a good mother in her way, even though her debts precipitate the sons’ problems. Leonie is not a bad mother to Vidal, although one wonders why he turned out so wild and spoilt. (Genetics?) Arabella has a nice mother, although we only meet her at the beginning of the book.Sir Richard Wyndham has a pretty terrible mother, on the other hand ….
The mother in Heyer’s False Colours is a good mother in her way, even though her debts precipitate the sons’ problems. Leonie is not a bad mother to Vidal, although one wonders why he turned out so wild and spoilt. (Genetics?) Arabella has a nice mother, although we only meet her at the beginning of the book.Sir Richard Wyndham has a pretty terrible mother, on the other hand ….
The mother in Heyer’s False Colours is a good mother in her way, even though her debts precipitate the sons’ problems. Leonie is not a bad mother to Vidal, although one wonders why he turned out so wild and spoilt. (Genetics?) Arabella has a nice mother, although we only meet her at the beginning of the book.Sir Richard Wyndham has a pretty terrible mother, on the other hand ….
The mother in Heyer’s False Colours is a good mother in her way, even though her debts precipitate the sons’ problems. Leonie is not a bad mother to Vidal, although one wonders why he turned out so wild and spoilt. (Genetics?) Arabella has a nice mother, although we only meet her at the beginning of the book.Sir Richard Wyndham has a pretty terrible mother, on the other hand ….
Maria, Heyer does have some good mothers. I wouldn’t say Leonie was that great, though. My impression was that she spoiled Vidal rotten. The big surprise is that Avon didn’t rein him in more, but that was perhaps because he indulged Leonie. Strange lot, all in all. Devil’s Cub is one of my favourites, but it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure!
Maria, Heyer does have some good mothers. I wouldn’t say Leonie was that great, though. My impression was that she spoiled Vidal rotten. The big surprise is that Avon didn’t rein him in more, but that was perhaps because he indulged Leonie. Strange lot, all in all. Devil’s Cub is one of my favourites, but it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure!
Maria, Heyer does have some good mothers. I wouldn’t say Leonie was that great, though. My impression was that she spoiled Vidal rotten. The big surprise is that Avon didn’t rein him in more, but that was perhaps because he indulged Leonie. Strange lot, all in all. Devil’s Cub is one of my favourites, but it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure!
Maria, Heyer does have some good mothers. I wouldn’t say Leonie was that great, though. My impression was that she spoiled Vidal rotten. The big surprise is that Avon didn’t rein him in more, but that was perhaps because he indulged Leonie. Strange lot, all in all. Devil’s Cub is one of my favourites, but it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure!
Maria, Heyer does have some good mothers. I wouldn’t say Leonie was that great, though. My impression was that she spoiled Vidal rotten. The big surprise is that Avon didn’t rein him in more, but that was perhaps because he indulged Leonie. Strange lot, all in all. Devil’s Cub is one of my favourites, but it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure!
It’s not just in romance. I’ve often noticed that children ‘s stories tend to feature orphans. Think how many dead mothers there are in the classic Disney princess movies! In my own writing, I’ve ruthlessly killed off a mom or two. I think it often serves to raise the stakes for the heroine when she can’t turn to mom for support .
It’s not just in romance. I’ve often noticed that children ‘s stories tend to feature orphans. Think how many dead mothers there are in the classic Disney princess movies! In my own writing, I’ve ruthlessly killed off a mom or two. I think it often serves to raise the stakes for the heroine when she can’t turn to mom for support .
It’s not just in romance. I’ve often noticed that children ‘s stories tend to feature orphans. Think how many dead mothers there are in the classic Disney princess movies! In my own writing, I’ve ruthlessly killed off a mom or two. I think it often serves to raise the stakes for the heroine when she can’t turn to mom for support .
It’s not just in romance. I’ve often noticed that children ‘s stories tend to feature orphans. Think how many dead mothers there are in the classic Disney princess movies! In my own writing, I’ve ruthlessly killed off a mom or two. I think it often serves to raise the stakes for the heroine when she can’t turn to mom for support .
It’s not just in romance. I’ve often noticed that children ‘s stories tend to feature orphans. Think how many dead mothers there are in the classic Disney princess movies! In my own writing, I’ve ruthlessly killed off a mom or two. I think it often serves to raise the stakes for the heroine when she can’t turn to mom for support .
Heroines with mothers couldn’t have as many adventures as they do. Catherine Morland in Austen’s Northanger Abbey has to leave her practical , efficient mother to go to Bath with the ascatter brained ineffiecient Mrs. Allen to have an adventure. It is rather a trope of stories.
Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays her hand is a good mother and the heroine.
Most good mothers are dead, leaving the bad ones and wicked stepmothers around. Stephanie Laurens has a good mother in the Dowager Duchess of st. Ives
Dare’s parents are good ones,
I really have to think about mothers because I don’t always remember them or siblings.
I think some heroines lately need a mother to tell them not to lift their skirts so carelessly. She would also need to tell them that saying you won’t marry a man because he hasn’t said he loved you after you had gone to bed with him is not to be borne. Which is why most mothers are dead or indifferent.
Heroines with mothers couldn’t have as many adventures as they do. Catherine Morland in Austen’s Northanger Abbey has to leave her practical , efficient mother to go to Bath with the ascatter brained ineffiecient Mrs. Allen to have an adventure. It is rather a trope of stories.
Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays her hand is a good mother and the heroine.
Most good mothers are dead, leaving the bad ones and wicked stepmothers around. Stephanie Laurens has a good mother in the Dowager Duchess of st. Ives
Dare’s parents are good ones,
I really have to think about mothers because I don’t always remember them or siblings.
I think some heroines lately need a mother to tell them not to lift their skirts so carelessly. She would also need to tell them that saying you won’t marry a man because he hasn’t said he loved you after you had gone to bed with him is not to be borne. Which is why most mothers are dead or indifferent.
Heroines with mothers couldn’t have as many adventures as they do. Catherine Morland in Austen’s Northanger Abbey has to leave her practical , efficient mother to go to Bath with the ascatter brained ineffiecient Mrs. Allen to have an adventure. It is rather a trope of stories.
Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays her hand is a good mother and the heroine.
Most good mothers are dead, leaving the bad ones and wicked stepmothers around. Stephanie Laurens has a good mother in the Dowager Duchess of st. Ives
Dare’s parents are good ones,
I really have to think about mothers because I don’t always remember them or siblings.
I think some heroines lately need a mother to tell them not to lift their skirts so carelessly. She would also need to tell them that saying you won’t marry a man because he hasn’t said he loved you after you had gone to bed with him is not to be borne. Which is why most mothers are dead or indifferent.
Heroines with mothers couldn’t have as many adventures as they do. Catherine Morland in Austen’s Northanger Abbey has to leave her practical , efficient mother to go to Bath with the ascatter brained ineffiecient Mrs. Allen to have an adventure. It is rather a trope of stories.
Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays her hand is a good mother and the heroine.
Most good mothers are dead, leaving the bad ones and wicked stepmothers around. Stephanie Laurens has a good mother in the Dowager Duchess of st. Ives
Dare’s parents are good ones,
I really have to think about mothers because I don’t always remember them or siblings.
I think some heroines lately need a mother to tell them not to lift their skirts so carelessly. She would also need to tell them that saying you won’t marry a man because he hasn’t said he loved you after you had gone to bed with him is not to be borne. Which is why most mothers are dead or indifferent.
Heroines with mothers couldn’t have as many adventures as they do. Catherine Morland in Austen’s Northanger Abbey has to leave her practical , efficient mother to go to Bath with the ascatter brained ineffiecient Mrs. Allen to have an adventure. It is rather a trope of stories.
Mrs. Drew in Mrs. Drew Plays her hand is a good mother and the heroine.
Most good mothers are dead, leaving the bad ones and wicked stepmothers around. Stephanie Laurens has a good mother in the Dowager Duchess of st. Ives
Dare’s parents are good ones,
I really have to think about mothers because I don’t always remember them or siblings.
I think some heroines lately need a mother to tell them not to lift their skirts so carelessly. She would also need to tell them that saying you won’t marry a man because he hasn’t said he loved you after you had gone to bed with him is not to be borne. Which is why most mothers are dead or indifferent.
LOL
I’m remembering the day some immaculately groomed (and perfectly nice) Jehovah’s Witness ladies came to my door to discuss the King of Kings, and I invited them to come in and discuss The Goddess instead. Their faces will forever live in my memory!
Oddly, I have never had another JW visit since then, even though I’ve moved at least eight times.
LOL
I’m remembering the day some immaculately groomed (and perfectly nice) Jehovah’s Witness ladies came to my door to discuss the King of Kings, and I invited them to come in and discuss The Goddess instead. Their faces will forever live in my memory!
Oddly, I have never had another JW visit since then, even though I’ve moved at least eight times.
LOL
I’m remembering the day some immaculately groomed (and perfectly nice) Jehovah’s Witness ladies came to my door to discuss the King of Kings, and I invited them to come in and discuss The Goddess instead. Their faces will forever live in my memory!
Oddly, I have never had another JW visit since then, even though I’ve moved at least eight times.
LOL
I’m remembering the day some immaculately groomed (and perfectly nice) Jehovah’s Witness ladies came to my door to discuss the King of Kings, and I invited them to come in and discuss The Goddess instead. Their faces will forever live in my memory!
Oddly, I have never had another JW visit since then, even though I’ve moved at least eight times.
LOL
I’m remembering the day some immaculately groomed (and perfectly nice) Jehovah’s Witness ladies came to my door to discuss the King of Kings, and I invited them to come in and discuss The Goddess instead. Their faces will forever live in my memory!
Oddly, I have never had another JW visit since then, even though I’ve moved at least eight times.
I can’t recall any stories that have great mothers in them…but I’ve read some with horrible mothers-in-law in them! The interesting thing about my own mother is that I discovered that she read historical romance novels as well…and I discovered it at a young age when I didn’t even know what they were. But one day while I was in high school I picked up one of her books that looked very well read–a hard back called Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor–and was fascinated with the history and the story. I’ve been reading historical romances ever since. jdh2690@gmail.com
I can’t recall any stories that have great mothers in them…but I’ve read some with horrible mothers-in-law in them! The interesting thing about my own mother is that I discovered that she read historical romance novels as well…and I discovered it at a young age when I didn’t even know what they were. But one day while I was in high school I picked up one of her books that looked very well read–a hard back called Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor–and was fascinated with the history and the story. I’ve been reading historical romances ever since. jdh2690@gmail.com
I can’t recall any stories that have great mothers in them…but I’ve read some with horrible mothers-in-law in them! The interesting thing about my own mother is that I discovered that she read historical romance novels as well…and I discovered it at a young age when I didn’t even know what they were. But one day while I was in high school I picked up one of her books that looked very well read–a hard back called Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor–and was fascinated with the history and the story. I’ve been reading historical romances ever since. jdh2690@gmail.com
I can’t recall any stories that have great mothers in them…but I’ve read some with horrible mothers-in-law in them! The interesting thing about my own mother is that I discovered that she read historical romance novels as well…and I discovered it at a young age when I didn’t even know what they were. But one day while I was in high school I picked up one of her books that looked very well read–a hard back called Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor–and was fascinated with the history and the story. I’ve been reading historical romances ever since. jdh2690@gmail.com
I can’t recall any stories that have great mothers in them…but I’ve read some with horrible mothers-in-law in them! The interesting thing about my own mother is that I discovered that she read historical romance novels as well…and I discovered it at a young age when I didn’t even know what they were. But one day while I was in high school I picked up one of her books that looked very well read–a hard back called Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor–and was fascinated with the history and the story. I’ve been reading historical romances ever since. jdh2690@gmail.com
WWII wasn’t history in my school days but clearly is now. So, I’ll mention Penelope and Sophie Keeling from The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. Dolly Keeling is, of course, the m-i-l from Hades.
WWII wasn’t history in my school days but clearly is now. So, I’ll mention Penelope and Sophie Keeling from The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. Dolly Keeling is, of course, the m-i-l from Hades.
WWII wasn’t history in my school days but clearly is now. So, I’ll mention Penelope and Sophie Keeling from The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. Dolly Keeling is, of course, the m-i-l from Hades.
WWII wasn’t history in my school days but clearly is now. So, I’ll mention Penelope and Sophie Keeling from The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. Dolly Keeling is, of course, the m-i-l from Hades.
WWII wasn’t history in my school days but clearly is now. So, I’ll mention Penelope and Sophie Keeling from The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. Dolly Keeling is, of course, the m-i-l from Hades.
Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons have a strong and loving mother, but that’s the only historical fiction series that I can think of off the top of my head with a really good mother who plays a relatively important role to the story.
I also laughed out loud about the JW’s… So that’s how you stop them….
Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons have a strong and loving mother, but that’s the only historical fiction series that I can think of off the top of my head with a really good mother who plays a relatively important role to the story.
I also laughed out loud about the JW’s… So that’s how you stop them….
Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons have a strong and loving mother, but that’s the only historical fiction series that I can think of off the top of my head with a really good mother who plays a relatively important role to the story.
I also laughed out loud about the JW’s… So that’s how you stop them….
Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons have a strong and loving mother, but that’s the only historical fiction series that I can think of off the top of my head with a really good mother who plays a relatively important role to the story.
I also laughed out loud about the JW’s… So that’s how you stop them….
Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons have a strong and loving mother, but that’s the only historical fiction series that I can think of off the top of my head with a really good mother who plays a relatively important role to the story.
I also laughed out loud about the JW’s… So that’s how you stop them….
I really enjoy the Duchess in Grace Burrowes’ series. She and the Duke are a hoot, and I love the way they are always scheming on behalf of their children – even the illegitimate ones. Another good mother is Sara Craven’s in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. She isn’t fazed by Derek Craven as a son-in-law and that is pretty incredible!
I really enjoy the Duchess in Grace Burrowes’ series. She and the Duke are a hoot, and I love the way they are always scheming on behalf of their children – even the illegitimate ones. Another good mother is Sara Craven’s in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. She isn’t fazed by Derek Craven as a son-in-law and that is pretty incredible!
I really enjoy the Duchess in Grace Burrowes’ series. She and the Duke are a hoot, and I love the way they are always scheming on behalf of their children – even the illegitimate ones. Another good mother is Sara Craven’s in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. She isn’t fazed by Derek Craven as a son-in-law and that is pretty incredible!
I really enjoy the Duchess in Grace Burrowes’ series. She and the Duke are a hoot, and I love the way they are always scheming on behalf of their children – even the illegitimate ones. Another good mother is Sara Craven’s in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. She isn’t fazed by Derek Craven as a son-in-law and that is pretty incredible!
I really enjoy the Duchess in Grace Burrowes’ series. She and the Duke are a hoot, and I love the way they are always scheming on behalf of their children – even the illegitimate ones. Another good mother is Sara Craven’s in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. She isn’t fazed by Derek Craven as a son-in-law and that is pretty incredible!